Shower doesn't drain
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Shower doesn't drain
Hey All,
The the shower in the ensuite doesn't drain well, and hasn't done since it was installed. I thought it was just blocked, but have tried multiple unblocking fluids including bleach. The basin next to it seems to drain okay.
See attached pics of how close it is to the basin, and how close the basin is to the toilet. The grey circular thing next to the toilet is an air admittance valve. I replaced the air admittance valve, assuming it was faulty, but that hasn't fixed the problem.
The plumbing is from the shower direct into a T piece where it connects to the basin, then into an adapter to the soil pipe T piece that the toilet connects to, then into another soil pipe T piece for the valve. The soil pipe exits under the valve. So quite simple plumbing.
The other day I did something different, I flushed the toilet whilst the shower tray was full of water, and suddenly the shower drained straight away.
So now I'm realising that it isn't blocked, it just cant get air behind it to drain. I'm thinking that the shower water just doesn't create enough of a vacuum to operate the valve like the toilet does.
As the floor is tiled and I really don't want to have to cut a hole in the ceiling downstairs if I can avoid it. I'm thinking of putting a small air admittance valve under the basin (a waste pipe sized one).
Do you think that would solve the problem?
The the shower in the ensuite doesn't drain well, and hasn't done since it was installed. I thought it was just blocked, but have tried multiple unblocking fluids including bleach. The basin next to it seems to drain okay.
See attached pics of how close it is to the basin, and how close the basin is to the toilet. The grey circular thing next to the toilet is an air admittance valve. I replaced the air admittance valve, assuming it was faulty, but that hasn't fixed the problem.
The plumbing is from the shower direct into a T piece where it connects to the basin, then into an adapter to the soil pipe T piece that the toilet connects to, then into another soil pipe T piece for the valve. The soil pipe exits under the valve. So quite simple plumbing.
The other day I did something different, I flushed the toilet whilst the shower tray was full of water, and suddenly the shower drained straight away.
So now I'm realising that it isn't blocked, it just cant get air behind it to drain. I'm thinking that the shower water just doesn't create enough of a vacuum to operate the valve like the toilet does.
As the floor is tiled and I really don't want to have to cut a hole in the ceiling downstairs if I can avoid it. I'm thinking of putting a small air admittance valve under the basin (a waste pipe sized one).
Do you think that would solve the problem?
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Shower doesn't drain
I wonder if you unscrew the basin bottle trap and run the shower if that works. You will then prove the basin pipe AAV solution.
DWD
DWD
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- mundungus (Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:03 pm)
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Shower doesn't drain
I'm a dumbass, I have no idea why I didn't think of that.
Thanks DWD
Thanks DWD
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- dewaltdisney (Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:41 pm)
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Shower doesn't drain
I can see the issue your air admittance valve beside the toilet seem to low to me or its getting stuck closed
stupid question but you do clean the shower trap out ? the centre part should lift out (some unscrew)
if not, As above put in an air admittance valve onto the sink waste (aka a Durgo)
stupid question but you do clean the shower trap out ? the centre part should lift out (some unscrew)
if not, As above put in an air admittance valve onto the sink waste (aka a Durgo)
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Shower doesn't drain
Thanks guys.
Yes, so unscrewing the trap seems to work, so just ordered AAV from Screwfix.
Yes, trap is clean. I had that out, and cleaned it before trying all the chemicals. So couldn't work out why it still seemed to be blocked.
Yes, so unscrewing the trap seems to work, so just ordered AAV from Screwfix.
Yes, trap is clean. I had that out, and cleaned it before trying all the chemicals. So couldn't work out why it still seemed to be blocked.
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Shower doesn't drain
it would be simple enough for the poster to try. 1 meter length of soil pipe and a connector and a aav to raise that one up a tad